Monday was not a good day for environmentalists, with news emerging of Prime Minister Robert Abela's decision to hive off the hunting regulator - the Wild Birds Regulation Unit - from the Environment Ministry and placing under the Gozo Ministry, led by hunter minister Clint Camilleri.
Now it has also emerged that the Tourism Ministry has been made responsible for National Parks and Countryside and Valley Management. Previously, these fell under the Environment Ministry's remit.
The Tourism Ministry is led by Minister Julia Farrugia, formerly Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms.
Sources said they could not understand why valley management and national parks, which include afforestation projects, have been removed from the Environment Ministry's portfolio.
It is unclear at this stage whether the recently established Ambjent Malta also falls under the Tourism Ministry.